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PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL FLYNN.

MURRAYS MATCH REPORT

Talbot slumped to their 1^st league defeat of 2022 in an error strewn afternoon against rivals Cumnock.

In the 4^th minute the referee booked both Carnwath and Graham Wilson. The Nock player appeared to be booked for diving and it wasn’t really clear why Graham Wilson joined him in the book.

There was no real pattern about the game with play stopping frequently for free kicks with the ref being very fussy.

The opening goal came in the 11^th minute and went the way of Cumnock. Ross whipped over a good cross from the right that found McLaughlin in space beyond the far post. He pulled his shot across goal but it ended up a good pass as MOORE stuck out a leg to steer it home from 6 yards.

It proved to be a short-lived lead as Talbot drew level two minute later. Graham Wilson found Aiden Wilson on the overlap and his cross was blocked behind for the corner. When Glasgow’s delivery came in from the left KIER SAMSON met it inside the 6-yard box to make it 1-1.

Cumnock won a free kick in a dangerous area in the 19^th minute but Monti’s effort went straight into the wall.

Two minutes later Moore received a yellow card for grabbing McCracken around the neck.

The Bot had a chance in the 28^th minute when Boylan let fly from 20 yards out forcing Hughes to turn it round his right hand post. The first corner in was put out for another corner and when this one came over Boylan won a flick on into the goal mouth but the defence were able to scramble it clear.

Chances were few & far between though Talbot had a half chance in the 35^th minute. Samson won the ball in the air and flicked it onto Boylan on the left of the area but he scuffed his shot and Hughes was able to smother it.

Talbot’s next attack saw the win a free kick out on the left touchline for a foul on Samson. Glasgow swung it into the area where it was cleared but only as far as Aiden Wilson who met it 15 yards out but on his weaker foot he trundled a shot wide of target.

Two minutes before the interval Talbot had a close call. One moment Talbot were on the attack through Stafford as he surged up the right and swung a cross into the area where Healy’s diving header was blocked. Cumnock then swiftly broke on the counter and when Armstrong missed a tackle on halfway Monti was able to race down the left and cut into the penalty area where he curled a shot past Leishman only for Aiden Wilson to head it off the line and so the sides headed in level at the break.

Cumnock made a change at the start of the 2^nd period with Miller on in place of Carnwath.

The 2^nd half started as it continued, with both sides struggling with the wind, and scrapping for 2^nd balls.

In the 54^th minute Frye had his name taken when he hauled down Glasgow as he broke up the right wing.

Talbot had a half chance in the 56^th minute when Graham Wilson laid the ball into the path of Glasgow on the right of the area; however his 1^st touch took him a bit too wide to hit it and his cross swept across the face of goal and beyond the far post.

The next effort at goal came from Cumnock on the hour mark. Monti flighted a free kick into the area which the defence cleared but only as far as McLaughlin who met it 22 yards out but never really set himself & fired his shot well over.

Neither keeper was over busy with no clear cut chances being made by either side.

In the 68^th minute Stafford released Glasgow down the wing & he whipped a good ball across the face of goal but there were no takers & it ran out for the goal kick.

70 mins in Talbot made their 1^st change with Mason on for Graham Wilson and soon after coming on Mason was involved as he raced clear on the right and drilled a low ball across the 6-yard area that Ross turned wide of the far post.

The game was growing increasingly scrappy and looked to be meandering to a draw but in the 77^th minute Cumnock grabbed the winner.  A long punt out of defence saw MOORE out muscle McPherson on the right of the penalty box and then prod a low shot past Leishman at his left post to put Cumnock 2-1 ahead.

With 7 minutes remaining Talbot made a further change with Hyslop on for Healy. The referee booked Monti in the 85^th minute for persistent fouling and then produced a yellow card for Mason though it wasn’t clear what for.

In the 86^th minute Talbot had a half chance when McCracken played it into the feet of Mason inside the area and he teed it back toward Glasgow but he fired over the bar from 19 yards.

Talbot had one final chance to snatch a draw in the final minute of regulation time. McCracken met Samson’s shy from the right and head flicked it on inside the area. It broke off a defender back to Mason at the edge of the area but he fired over the bar on the half-volley and Cumnock saw out time to claim the win.

A bad day at the office for Talbot. Next up for the Bot is the visit of Bonnyton Thistle next Saturday.

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Stafford, Aiden Wilson, McPherson, Craig McCracken, Armstrong, Samson, Healy, Graham Wilson, Boylan, Glasgow

Subs – Mason, Robbie McCracken, Hyslop, White, Hewitt

Cumnock – Hughes, Ross, Ferry, McIntyre, Murdoch, Wilson, Frye, Carnwath, Moore, Monti, McLaughlin

Subs – Tart, McGill, Miller, Osadolor, Baird, Strain